h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I still can't get used to the 'bike' attitude over here.

I spent a great evening as a DJ in a local bar in town only to come out and find someone had ridden off with Giselle. Yeah, I know its pathetic naming a bike but she's been a good friend to me since February 2002 when she replaced Gabby my previous Gazelle - also stolen from under my nose more-or-less.

I know that this 'borrowing' of bicycles isn't particularly perceived as a criminal act over here and that all are considered fair game after a late night when you just want a quick way to get home. Sorry but to me it feels like an affront. She's seen me safe to and from college every day, allowed me the freedom you don't get with public transport especially as I gave up my car when moving over here. She's had lights 'removed', wheels bent and stickers affixed by persons unknown. She's often been caught in amazing rainstorms and kept soldiering on. She's been treated to a new bell, new pump, new lights and the odd lick of oil. Everytime I fetched her out of the shed it was like greeting an old friend... and now she's gone goodness knows where.

Yes I have her frame number and, yes, she will be reported missing. I don't hold out much hope though...

So, to the who took her I just say very much! You've ruined my weekend and made me feel that this place is a little less friendly than it was this time yesterday.

shazz - no longer eligible for the h2g2 cycling club...

Yeah the dutch attitude to bikes like that. I was back in Holland for one week and my bike got nicked. You go to the police, they give you a free pen, but they're clearly not bothered.

Cheer up, maybe she'll come home.

poor Shazz

I hate

Bring that bike back now!

Alas it is the way it is, and you have to prepare for it.
Part of the problem is that people keep on buying bikes offered on a bridge or elsewhere on the street for 10 - 25 Euro, so they know they buy stolen goods. But first they spend about a 100 Euro on a lock that can hold an elephant.

Maybe you can arrange to have your next bike parked inside the Kasteel.

to hear about your loss Shazz

I used to visit Holland a lot when vistitng my sister who lives there, and you would be surprised just how many get thrown into the canals once the thieves have finished with them

ps. I dont go any more, as she stopped speaking to me after my divorce 13 years ago
Smudger,

Thank you all

Sadly even locks don't always prevent them going missing. I just hope that she doesn't get dumped in the water...

It wasn't Kasteel this time Marijn - it was Kwatro in town. I always put her inside Kasteel on a Thursday night but busy weekends she had to take her chance along with the rest. It was a night like that when someone couldn't detach the lock and pushed her over and jumped on the front wheel and buckled it.

Oh well - I'm back in the UK on Thursday for a few weeks so if I'm very lucky she may be picked up by the police. They do seem pretty keen in Alphen to stamp out bike theft and have an active policy of collecting obviously dumped or stolen bikes. If she has gone for good then it will be Shankies Pony for me for a while.

shazz

Shazz,
I was sorry to hear about this too. I just heard about this bike theft phenomena in Holland last week and thougt of you and, who is that, erm, Pheloxi I think? Anyway. Holland always sounds so idyllic until you hear about this. I hope they find it.

Thank you

I don't think that Pheloxi rides a bike as it happens.

Bike theft seems to be classed more as 'borrowing' a bike which means there is a cavalier attitude to it rather than the outrage I, as a Brit, feel over something of mine which has been removed from my ownership.

Oh well, I have a birthday coming up in a few months so if she isn't back I guess I can get yet another one and, as Marijn suggests, spend more on the security measures then the actual bike!

shazz

Yeah. That s***s.
Nobody ever wanted to steal one of my many junker vehicles, but I've had two bikes stolen and one that they kept trying to take.
I came out of work one night and found the old gas pipe I had locked it to sawn in half. I'd only had that bike a couple of weeks.

I guess the custom over there is if someone nicks your bike, you just nick someone else's?

We have so few bikes in this town that people look at you like an alien when you try to cross one of the road bridges that lacks a sidewalk.

Sorry about your bike.
I'd get extra peeved if anyone tried to nick mine.

Shazz, maybe you can have a try with a Kronan. See http://www.kronan.nl/ .
They are very difficult to re-sell as they are completely registered and very sturdy agains vandalism. Alas they are not very elegant and nothing really helps agains a collector.

They've taken nearly all my old bikes so far.
the only advice i can give for a next bike is take care it is more truble to get yours then any of the others on a certain location. Also suggesting to park her in company.

You also should know never to use these public bikestands as the only thing they are used for is bending your wheels, sometimes by accident.

The best result i've had with a bike was FLITZ
I made it having lots of 'defects', one of the best was removing the little springs in the rear shaft normally they make your pedals in forward direction rotate the rear wheel in reverse they eneable free running to give the break a go. The effect was i had to have some speed before any result by pedelling. even when i forgot the locks nobody would go far on it including myself if i had been in the pub for too long. This one is not stolen, it was my brother borrowing it for some years ago. (and he managed to recollect it three times in a row at police stations in Amsterdam, Rotterdam and Den Haag after forgetting to lock it)

How would I recognise Giselle? I happen to cycle a lot in this area, perhaps I spot her?
My feeling suggest she is a white classic lady, with normal stand (not the huge U shaped stand)

Hi Max

Of course - you are in Alphen too aren't you?

Yes, she's a white lady with pink Gazelle writing. She has the usual dynamo lights plus fittings for battery ones on the left front handlebar next to the bell and just below the saddle. Ironically I still have the lights as I removed them to save them from being stolen (what a joke eh!)

If they have been totally blatent there may still be a light green C1000 bag strapped on to the parcel rack - her 'plastic mac' for her saddle when it was raining.

shazz

Yes, you are right i forgot to mention i live in Alphen.
i like the oddity about this super market

Anyway the police here in Alphen do take you serious in my experience. However if you concider most retreived bikes are _not_ collected by their owners they are doing a great job. well, informing victems about showdays could help something in this.

I will have a lookout for Giselle

Any luck jet?
They've cleaned the pools (?also used to drain the water = canals?) sorry I have not seen your giselle , only one of twenny was a ladies classic.

No - but I am off to check at the police open day tomorrow morning.

shazz

You can pick up some right good deals at those auctions Shazz

One thing Ive noticed recently, is that they dont advertise the auctions any more which means that all the Dealers have no competion

It sreally amazing what gets turned into the Police stations, items that have been found, or even confiscated
I remember buying a small gas cooker at one auction, in fact still got it It works a treat
Smudger,